A groundbreaking technology that quantifies blood flow in the heart is improving the diagnosis of potentially life-threatening coronary artery disease (CAD), according to an international study led by researchers from the School of Medicine. This advancement in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) works alongside stress testing to better identify CAD, a condition that affects over 70% of individuals aged 60 and older.
CMR stress testing is a noninvasive method that allows doctors to evaluate heart function and detect dangerous blood flow blockages.
The latest research indicates that combining CMR with blood-flow data significantly enhances the ability to diagnose CAD.
The new technique outperformed human experts in analyzing images, as detailed in the journal JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
Dr. Amit Patel, a cardiologist and imaging expert at UVA Health, emphasized the importance of these findings: “This non-invasive test can help diagnose CAD even in medical centers without highly experienced physicians available for image interpretation. By integrating novel blood flow measurements into CMR assessments, we can more accurately identify patients who may benefit from invasive heart catheterization.”
Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with fatty plaques building up in arteries that supply blood to the heart. This buildup can restrict blood flow and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. While CMR stress testing is effective for spotting CAD, the new quantitative CMR approach shows even greater promise.
In a clinical trial conducted across 10 sites worldwide, researchers tested quantitative CMR on 127 patients with an average age of 62.
They aimed to distinguish between two types of CAD: obstructive and nonobstructive. Obstructive CAD is less common but often requires surgical intervention, while nonobstructive CAD typically involves medication management.
The study revealed that incorporating blood flow data significantly improved CMR’s ability to detect obstructive CAD. Of the participants, 56 (44%) were diagnosed with obstructive CAD, while 71 had nonobstructive CAD. The enhanced CMR method proved more effective than traditional CMR and human evaluations.
Dr. Patel noted, “These findings could reduce the number of patients needing invasive heart catheterization procedures.
While this study focused on obstructive CAD, future research will explore how blood flow measurements can aid patients with other heart conditions, such as heart failure.”
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